Pump and folding support arrangement therefor

ABSTRACT

A pump and support arrangement therefor includes a first generally triangular frame means for pivotally supporting a hollow pump housing at its lower end. The converging sides of the first frame means are provided with a pivotal connection adjacent their upper ends and an additional frame means of a generally conforming triangular configuration and somewhat larger is also connected to the same pivot at its upper end. This enables the first frame means and the additional frame means to be pivoted toward and away from each other, so that when they are pivoted toward each other, the first frame means is nested within the additional frame means. Lock means are provided so that when the frame means are spread apart, they may be retained in such spread apart relationship for supporting the pump during operation. The hollow housing of the pump includes a piston with an opening therein and valve means for accommodating flow through the piston in one direction, but preventing flow in another direction. A piston rod is connected to such valve means and extends out the upper end of the hollow housing and is provided with a support means pivotally connected thereto which is telescopically received within tubular means that are pivotally carried by the same pivotal support which pivotally supports the first and additional frame means. The piston rod support means and the tubular housing telescopically receiving it are provided with securing means for securing the piston rod support means in an extended position relative to the tubular means and also in a collapsed position relative to the tubular means when the first frame means and additional frame means are in nested relation. When the piston rod support means and the tubular means are secured in extended relation, the tubular means functions as a handle to aid in moving the piston up and down within the housing so as to move fluid received from an inlet in the housing through the piston and thereabove, and thereafter on an upstroke of the piston, the valve means closes and moves the trapped fluid through an outlet in the housing.

Unite States Patent 91 Ellis PUMP AND FOLDING SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTTHEREFOR Lonnie T. Ellis, Route 2, Box 33-A, Orange, Tex. 77630 22Filed: Jan. 12,1972

21 Appl.No.: 173,105

[76] inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,363,898 12/1920 Mortier..4l7/903 X 1,539,556 5/1925 Gal'ber ..4l7/554 X 4/1930 Langdon..417/554 Primary ExaminerC. J. l-lusar Assistant Examiner-Leonard SmithAtt0rneyJack W. Hayden [57] ABSTRACT 1 May 1, 1973 tional frame means tobe pivoted toward and away from each other, so that when they arepivoted toward each other, the first frame means is nested within theadditional frame means. Lock means are provided so that when the framemeans are spread apart, they may be retained in such spread apartrelationship for supporting the pump during operation.

The hollow housing of the pump includes a piston with an opening thereinand valve means for accommodating flow through the piston in onedirection, but preventing flow in another direction. A piston rod isconnected to such valve means and extends out the upper end of thehollow housing and is provided with a support means pivotally connectedthereto which is telescopically received within tubular means that arepivotally carried by the same pivotal support which pivotally supportsthe first and additional frame means.

The piston rod support means and the tubular housing telescopicallyreceiving it are provided with securing means for securing the pistonrod support means in an extended position relative to the tubular meansand also in a collapsed position relative to the tubular means when thefirst frame means and additional frame means are in nested relation.When the piston rod support means and the tubular means are secured inextended relation, the tubular means functions as a handle to aid inmoving the piston up and down within the housing so as to move fluidreceived from an inlet in the housing through the piston and thereabove,and thereafter on an upstroke of the piston, the valve means closes andmoves the trapped fluid through an outlet in the housing.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 193 3,730,651

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Those references with which applicant hasknowledge of include: to McGee, U.S. Pat. No. 528,378; Bower, U.S. Pat.No. 72l,662; Schalt, U.S. Pat. No. 764,900; Laing, U.S. Pat. No.2,865,295; Shafer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,961,003; Wickenberg et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,180; and Plos, U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,424.

None of these references disclose a compact pump, the support frame ofwhich can be folded when not in use and which also enables the framearrangement to be unfolded in a relatively short time and positioned foroperation of the pump to either pump fluid through the pump or to siphonliquids.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION the first frame means and additionalframe means when they are nested; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the pump and support arrangement ofthe present invention when folded or nested and not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODINENT Attention is first directed toFIG. ll of the invention wherein a first frame means is illustrated bythe number 3 and an additional framemeans is illustrated by the number4. The frame means 3 and 4 are provided with a common pivot asrepresented at 5 adjacent their upper ends to enable the frame means 3and 4 to be moved toward and away from each other, as will be described.Lock brace means represented generally at 6 has one end 6a pivotallyconnected to the additional frame means adjacent its lower ends as shownin FIG. 1 and is provided with a turned down portion 6b adjacent itsopposite end for detachably engaging over the bolt head 60 for lockingthe first and additional frame members 3 and 4 in the spread apartposition illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The first frame means 3 is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 of thedrawing and is shown as including the sloping legs forming the side ofthe frame, such legs being designated 3a and 3b which are connectedtogether adjacent their lower ends by brace means 3c extendingtherebetween. The sides 3a and 3b converge or slope upwardly towardseach other and are pivotally connected together at their upper ends bymeans of the nected at their upper ends anda brace extending I betweensaid side members adjacent their lower ends for supporting a hollowhousing at its lower end, the

hollow housing having an inlet and outlet. The pivotal connection at theupper frame ends also pivotally supports a tubular handle meansconnected with a piston rod support means which in turn is pivotallyconnected to a piston rod that reciprocates a piston connected theretowithin the hollow housing. The piston includes an opening therein foraccommodating flow of fluid through the piston, and valve means isassociated with the piston for accommodating fluid flow therethrough inone direction but inhibiting flow in the opposite direction wherebyfluid maybe pumped from the inlet of the housing through the piston andthen discharged through the outlet of the housing.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a pump andsupport arrangement therefor which enables the pump and the supportarrangement to be folded when not in use to occupy a minimum of space,and which support arrangement may be positioned with a minimum of effortin a minimum amount of time'to properly support the pump for operationthereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description and drawing:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 11 is a side elevationillustrating the first and additional frame means spread apart andlocked in such spread apart position with the pump positioned thereonfor operation. The dotted line portion of FIG. 1 represents therelationship of the tubular member to pin 5a extending therethroughwhich forms a common pivot connection for the first frame means 3 andthe additional frame means 4 as previously noted.

The additional frame means 4 also includes legs or sides 4a and 4b whichare connected together adjacent their lower ends by the brace 40extending therebetween, and the legs 4a and 4b slope upwardly andconverge toward each other and are carried on the pin 5a for pivotingrelative thereto.

It will be noted that the additional frame means 4 is constructed andarranged so that it is somewhat larger than the first frame means 3, andwhen the first frame means 3 and d are in collapsed relation so that theframes 3 and 4 are nested in the same plane, the frame means 4 willsurround the frame means 3 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Bothframes are generally of an A configuration as shown and may be formed'of suitable material such as rods or tubular goods.

A hollow cylindrical housing 13 is pivotally supported at its lower end13a by any suitable bracket means as represented at 13b on the brace 30extending between the lower ends of the legs 3a and 3b of frame means 3.The hollow cylindrical housing 13 is provided with closed upper andlower ends 13' and 13'', respectively, as shown in the drawing. It isalso provided with an inlet 13c and an outlet 13d. The upper end 13' isa threaded cap for engaging cylindrical housing 13. It Y piston means 14for Piston means 14 are carried within the hollow cylindrical housing orcylinder 13 and include an annular metal plate 14a, a pliable sealelement such as leather 14b, and a lower annular metal plate 140. Theplates 14a and 140 are provided with an opening 14d and a hollow tubularmember l4e may be secured in such opening by any suitable means such asby threads or welding. The hollow tubular member 14e is provided withthreads whereby the nut 14g may be threadedly secured on Me to holdannular plates 14a, leather disc 14b, and annular plate 140 together toform the piston means 14. The hollow tubular member He provides anopening through the piston means 14 for flow of fluid as will bedescribed. 1

Valve means 15 are carried by the piston 14 on the top thereof, suchvalve means including the housing or cage 15a which has suitable portsor openings therein (not shown) for the flow of fluid therethrough andwhich also provides an arrangement for retaining valve element 15bwithin the cage and for seating on the upper end of tubular member Me toclose off flow through the piston. Extending downwardly from the outlet13d is a small, say one/thirty-second to one/sixteenth inch in widthslot 13g which forms a means for relieving trapped air from the portion23 above piston means 14 as it is moved upwardly within the cylindricalhousing 13. The outlet 13d is provided with a conduit 24 and a suitablecheck valve means 24 to accommodate flow outwardly of the housing 13,but preventing flow in an opposite direction.

The piston rod 17 is connected to the valve cage 15 and extends upwardlythrough the upper end 13 of the cylinder 13. A suitable packing glandarrangement 13h is provided for sealing around the piston rod 17 and toinhibit leakage of fluid from the cylindrical housing 13. The piston rod17 is pivotally connected at its upper end to piston rod support means17a, the piston rod support means being telescopically received withinthe tubular means 8 pivotally mounted by the bracket means 80 on the pina adjacent the upper ends of the frame means 3 and 4. The piston rodsupport means includes an opening 17b and an opening 170 for aligningwith the opening 8b in the tubular member 8 to lock the piston supportmeans and the tubular means in position for operation of the pump, andto lock them when the frame means 3 and 4 are in collapsed position asillustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing and as shown in plan view of FIG.2. The frame means 6 is shown as including the spaced legs 60 and 6dwhich are pivotally connected at their lower ends by any suitable meansas represented at 6a to the brace 4c extending between the legs 40 and4b, and suitable brace means 6fextend between the legs 6d and 6e asshown in FIG. 2 for retaining them in alignment.

When the frame means 3 and 4 are spread apart as illustrated in FIG. 1of the drawing, then the lock brace means 6 is lowered so that the ends6b thereof engage with the retaining means 6c as previously described.When it is desired to operate the pump, the securing means referred togenerally at 30 and comprising the chain 10 and the pin 9 securedthereto is released from engagement in the opening 17b in the piston rodsupport means 170 and the aligned opening 8b of the tubular means 8.Then additional frame means 4 is moved rearwardly relative to the firstframe means 3 and the lock brace means 6 positioned as shown in FIG. 1of the drawing. When the frame means 3 and 4 are spread apart, thesupport means 17a will withdraw from the tubular means 8 or is withdrawnmanually so that the cylindrical housing 13 may be positioned as shownin FIG. 1 of the drawing. After the cylindrical housing 13 is thuspositioned, the pin 9 may be engaged in the hole 8b and hole 17c forlocking the tubular member and the piston rod support means 17atogether. The tubular means 8 and piston rod support means 17a may thenfunction as a handle for operating the piston rod 17 to reciprocate thepiston means 14 within the hollow cylinder 13.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention is apparentfrom the foregoing description, it will be assumed that it is desired topump water or other liquids. The handle 8 is moved so that the pistonmeans 14 move downwardly within the cylindrical housing 13, and whenthis occurs, liquid supplied through the inlet will pass upwardlythrough the hollow tubular member 14c and through the piston means 14and the cage 15 to the space 23 above the piston means 14 within thecylindrical housing 13.

Thereupon, when the piston means 14 is moved upwardly within thecylindrical housing 13 by the handle means 8, such liquid is forcedupwardly, and any trapped air may escape through the minute slot 13gformed within the housing 13. Thereafter, the liquid is dischargedthrough the outlet 13d and conduit 24 connected therewith. Continuedmovement of the piston means up and down within the cylindrical housing13 pumps liquid therethrough. It will be noted that the pliable annularseal disc 14b, which may be formed of leather, is larger than theinternal diameter of the cylindrlcal housing 13 to assure the flexiblemember 14 as the piston means 14 is reciprocated within the housing.

When the pump is not in use, the piston rod support means 17a may bedisengaged from the tubular means 8 by disengaging the securing means 30therebetween and lock brace means 6 between the frame means 3 and 4 maybe released so that the frames 3 and 4 may be moved towards each otherto lie in the same plane. As this occurs, the piston rod means 17a istelescoped within the tubular member 8 and frame means 4 and tubularmember 8 will move the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawing.

The present invention may also be employed to pump air and other fluidsor liquids. Also, it can be employed as a siphon to initiate the flow ofliquids from a container at a higher level. When employed as a siphon, aconduit 50 having valve means 51 therein and a quick connect-disconnectarrangement 52 for engaging with the end of conduit 13e. The apparatus,after conduit 50 has been connected to 13s, is operated as previouslydescribed until liquid flow is effected through conduit 50, whereuponvalve 51 is closed and conduit 50 is disconnected from 13a to continuethe discharge of liquid in a desired manner.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pump and support arrangement therefor comprising:

a. a hollow housing closed at both ends and having an inlet and anoutlet;

b. first frame means pivotally supporting the lower end of said hollowhousing;

c. pivotal support means adjacent the upper end of said first framemeans;

d. piston means carried within said housing, said piston means having anopening therein for fluid flow therethrough;

e. valve means carried by said piston means for accommodating flowthrough the piston opening in one direction and closing off flow in theother direction;

f. a piston rod connected to said valve means and extending out theupper closed end of said hollow housing;

g. piston rod support means pivotally connected to said piston rod;

h. additional frame means connected adjacent the upper end thereof tosaid pivotal support means for said first frame means, said first framemeans and said additional frame means being of the same generalconfiguration, but said additional frame means being somewhat larger sothat when said first and additional frame means are moved to the sameplane, said additional frame means surrounds said first frame means;

i. tubular means pivotally carried by said means that pivotally supportssaid first and additional frame means and telescopically receiving saidpiston rod support means;

j. lock brace means connected with one of said frame means adjacent itslower end and movable to engage with the other of said frame meansadjacent its lower end when said first and additional frame means arespread apart to thereby secure said frame means in such spreadrelationship to provide a support arrangement for the hollow housing;and

. means for securing said tubular means and said piston rod supportmeans together whereby said tubular means may be reciprocated for movingsaid piston up and down in said housing to thereby move fluid from thehousing inlet and through the piston opening on the downstroke and formoving fluid out the housing outlet on the piston upstroke.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first frame means includes sidemembers connected adjacent their lower ends by a brace therebetween,said side members sloping upwardly toward each other, there being abrace extending between and connected adjacent their upper ends, andwherein said pivot support means for the upper end includes a pinextending through said side members to accommodate pivoting of said sidemembers.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said additional frame means includesside members connected adjacent their lower ends by a bracetherebetween, said side members of said additional frame means slopingupwardly at substantially the same angle as said side members of saidfirst frame means, but being longer than said side members of said firstframe means and spaced further apart so that said additional frame meanssurrounds said first frame means when the are in a common plane, andwherein the upper ends ot said side members of said additional framemeans are pivotally connected with said pin adjacent their upper endswhich also pivotally supports the upper end of said side members of saidfirst frame means.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said lock brace means includesspaced brace means pivotally connected with said brace extending betweensaid side members of said additional frame means and including means forengaging with said brace extending between said side members of saidfirst frame means for locking said first frame means and said additionalframe means in spaced relation.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes cage meansmounted .on said piston and a valve member carried within said cage forclosing off the piston opening on the upstroke ofthe piston.

6. The invention of claim 1 including opening means for dischargingtrapped air from said hollow housing on I the upstroke of said piston.

1. A pump and support arrangement therefor comprising: a. a hollowhousing closed at both ends and having an inlet and an outlet; b. firstframe means pivotally supporting the lower end of said hollow housing;c. pivotal support means adjacent the upper end of said first framemeans; d. piston means carried within said housing, said piston meanshaving an opening therein for fluid flow therethrough; e. valve meanscarried by said piston means for accommodating flow through the pistonopening in one direction and closing off flow in the other direction; f.a piston rod connected to said valve means and extending out the upperclosed end of said hollow housing; g. piston rod support means pivotallyconnected to said piston rod; h. additional frame means connectedadjacent the upper end thereof to said pivotal support means for saidfirst frame means, said first frame means and said additional framemeans being of the same general configuration, but said additional framemeans being somewhat larger so that when said first and additional framemeans are moved to the same plane, said additional frame means surroundssaid first frame means; i. tubular means pivotally carried by said meansthat pivotally supports said first and additional frame means andtelescopically receiving said piston rod support means; j. lock bracemeans connected with one of said frame means adjacent its lower end andmovable to engage with the other of said frame means adjacent its lowerend when said first and additional frame means are spread apart tothereby secure said frame means in such spread relationship to provide asupport arrangement for the hollow housing; and k. means for securingsaid tubular means and said piston rod support means together wherebysaid tubular means may be reciprocated for moving said piston up anddown in said housing to thereby move fluid from the housing inlet andthrough the piston opening on the downstroke and for moving fluid outthe housing outlet on the piston upstroke.
 2. The invention of claim 1wherein said first frame means includes side members connected adjacenttheir lower ends by a brace therebetween, said side members slopingupwardly toward each other, there being a brace extending between andconnected adjacent their upper ends, and wherein said pivot supportmeans for the upper end includes a pin extending through said sidemembers to accommodate pivoting of said side members.
 3. The inventionof claim 2 wherein said additional frame means includes side membersconnected adjacent their lower ends by a brace therebetween, said sidemembers of said additional frame means sloping upwardly at substantiallythe same angle as said side members of said first frame means, but beinglonger than said side members of said first frame means and spacedfurther apart so that said additional frame means surrounds said firstframe means when they are in a common plane, and wherein the upper endsof said side members of said additional frame means are pivotallyconnected with said pin adjacent their upper ends which also pivotallysupports the upper end of said side members of said first frame means.4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said lock brace means includesspaced brace means pivotally connected with said brace extending betweensaid side members of said additional frame means and including means forengaging with said brace extending between said side members of saidfirst frame means for locking said first frame means and said additionalframe means in spaced relation.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidvalve means includes cage means mounted on said piston and a valvemember carried within said cage for closing off the piston opening onthe upstroke of the piston.
 6. The invention of claim 1 includingopening means for discharging trapped air from said hollow housing onthe upstroke of said piston.